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(No Model.) 2,Sheets-Sheet '1.

v K.MODEREGGER. ELECTRICAL SWITCH SETTINCAND LOCKING DEVICE.

No. 531,130; Patented Dec. 18,1894.

IN VEN TOR ATIORIYEY N. 3 .wflivallii'lrii iafi M 7! .IFIII NH2EEEEEEEE E THE mums mans co. "momma. WASHINGTON 0, c.

.2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "(No Model.)

. K. MODEREGGER. I

ELECTRICAL, SWIIGH SETTING AND LOOKING DEVICE.

Patented Dec; 18, 1894.

,IIIIIIIIIIIA'IIVI'A l I 11V VENT 0R F/IflIII/IIIIIIIIA A ATTORNEY WI T NgSES Pum'oMTHo vusmucrm a c UNITED STATES l ATENT Gaston.

KARL MODEREGGER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS dz HALSKE, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

ELECTRICAL SWITOH'ISETTJNG AND LOCKING DVEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,130, dated December 18, 1894.

Application filed February 8, 1893. Serial No. 461.414. (No mddel.) Patented in Germany December 6, 189L110. 65,810, and in Austria-Hungary December 14', 1891, 110.42.614 and No. 73,712.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, KARL MODEREGGER, a

subjectof the Em peror of Germany, residing ters Patent in Germany, No. 65,810, dated December 6, 1891,) of which the following is a specification.

I My present invention relates to devices or apparatus designed for setting switch rails by means of an electro-motor coupled thereto and controllable from a signal box or railway station at a distant point. Special mechanism is provided for locking the switch when set bythe motor. The invention also embodies means and mechanism, whereby, should the switch be forced open or run through to either'side by flanges of engine or car wheels, the switch rails will be at once set over fully to the main line railstowardwhich they werestarted or forced by the wheel flanges and whereby the switch rails will not remain in dangerous intermediate open positions. The normal operation and running through of the switch are also indicated at the signal box or at a central station.

The invention will first be described and then will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

1 Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification,

and in whichsimilar letters and figures'of reference indicate like parts in the several views. l

Figure 1, is a plan view of my improved electrical switch setting and locking devices; Fig. l is a detail view illustrating the connection of the switch rails and their actuating bar. Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal sectional view of the same, with the main line and switchrailsinstransverse section. Fig. the coupling which perthe switch actuating shaft.

Fig. 3, is a detail vertical sectional view showing adjustments of the locking mechanism'when' the switch is run through to the left hand. Fig. 4, is a detail view of the locking mechanism as it appears when the 5 switch is operated normally by the electromotor and thrown to the left. Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail plan view of the switchlocking mechanism, and Fig. 6, is a detail view showing the action of the weighted safety lever on the locking cam in carrying-the switch that has been run through fully over to the opposing main rails.

In any suitable weather-proof casing A, lo-

cated outside of the main line rails 1, 1, is 6 placed any approved form of electro-motor B,

to the armature shaft of which is coupled, by

two disks engaging each other by a wrist pin 17, a shaft 0, which is coupled to a shaft D, to

which is fixed one end of a screw shaft E, which in turn is connected to another shaft F,'to which the switch locking mechanism hereinafter described is attached. The successive and aligned shafts C, D, E, F, are pro.-

tectedin a weather-proof sectional casing G, 5

turn the latter one, the shaft D, may have a telescoping endwise movement on the shaft 0, to accommodate the motion of some parts of the locking mechanism when the switch is run through by the wheel flanges of an engine or train, and as hereinafter more fully explained.

The coupling e, between the shafts E, and F, may have any approved construction which will allow the shaft EQto turn in the shaft F,

while causingboth of these parts to move together endwise. As shown, this coupling consists of a'sleeve keyed fast to the interior ofthe end of the hollow shaft F and having the reduced end portion of shaft E journaled This reduced portion of shaft E 5 connection 'with the locking mechanism for- 10 o bids it. It will be understood that while the particular construction above named is preferred, any means or method of making or coupling together parts of ashaft carrying a screw E, and a non-rotatable end portion F, to connect with reciprocating parts of the switch locking mechanism, and capable of endwise telescoping action and of connection to an electro-motor or any other means whereby rotation may be given to the screw, may be adopted within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows one suitable coupling 0 having a part c fixed to the shaft 0, and a part c fixed tothe shaft D. The part c is preferably convexed longitudinally and has opposed grooves 10, 10 which normally receive pins 11 11, on the other part c of the coupling. The pins, by sliding in the grooves, allow sufficient telescoping action of the shaft.

On the screw E, is fitted an internally threaded nut or traveler H, which has a lateral stud h, which moves along a side slot of the casing G, and alfords means for connecting one end of a rod I, which at its other upturned or inclined end carries a transverse pin 11, which gives journal bearings to three anti-friction rollers j, j, and 7c. The rollers j, j, engage the notched or recessed upper ends of two tappet plates or grips J, J, which are pivoted to a rigidly held shaft L, which also affords apivotal bearing for a quadrantal guide plate K, which at its upper broader part is provided with a curved slot having tangential end portions k and in which slot the roller is, on the connecting rod 1, has play at times during certain adjustments of the mechanism hereinafter more fully described.

On the stationary shaft L, and behind the guide K,is rigidly fixed abearing'm, to which is pivoted a catch M, having a lengthwise slot on, which receives loosely a pin N, fastened rigidly to the guide K, and whereby as said guide is rocked on the shaft L, it will carry with it the catch M, which then swings over on its journal or pivot at the bearing m, and

carries with it the rod 0, which has a pin 0,

entering the enlarged outer part of the catch slot m, and at its other end is pivoted at o, to the endwise movable switch shaft F, E, D, above mentioned.

is fixed another pin P, which is shown below the horizontal plane of the guide pivot L, and

has suitable pivotal connection with the heel of a peculiarly formed latchingcam R, having a practically heart shaped upper part consisting of two wing portions 0'' 1', each having an eccentric outer face and providing between them an upper recess 0*. In this recess normally rests an anti-friction roller 3, which is journaled to a lever S, fulcrumed at s, to the switch mechanism frame and carrying at its outer vertically movable end a weight T, which by its gravity tends to press the roller .9, into the cam latch recess 1', to prevent rocking movement of the parts R, P, K, during normal shifting of the switch rails 2, 2, by

rotation of the electro-motor shaft, but allowing rocking of said parts R, P, K,'when the switch is run through by the wheel flanges, and as hereinafter more fully explained.

To the outer grip device J, is pivoted at a, one end of a rod or bar U, the other end or part of which is suitably coupled to the switch rails 2, 2, as seen in Fig. 1 for shifting them one way or the other for closing or opening the switch, and another rod V, which is connected at one end to the rod I, or to the coupling pin it, of the screw nut II, has at its other end any approved lever and shaft connections 1), o, to electric switch devices W, and whereby suitably connected wires leading from any source of electric energy, will conduct the current to cause reverse action of the switch, operating mechanism, and whereby also the running through of the switch will be signaled at a central station.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: We will suppose the switch rails 2, 2, occupy the positions shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings, and it is desired to throw them normally to theleft hand. The connections V, '1), to the two switches to, to, (see Fig. 1,) are adjusted relatively to the motor B, to cause rotation of the screw shaft E, in direction indicated by the arrow when the electric circuit is completed by operation of a button, key orlever at a distantsignal tower or station. When the circuit is thus closed to the motor and the compound shaft 0, D, E, is rotated, the nut traveler H, will be moved toward the motor along the screw E, while the entire shaft 0, D, E, F, remains endwise immovable, and the rod I, ismoved by and with the traveler II. The rod 1,,by means of its two rollers j, j, and after its third roller 70, slips out of the recess 70 in which it had been locked to hold the switch in the right hand position, will engage the notched grip plates J, J, and swing or rock them over toward the left hand, While the roller k, slips along in the curved slot 7r, of the guide plate K. During this endwise movement of the rod I, the rod U, connected to the front grip plate J, and to the switch rails 2, 2, will move the latter over to the left hand against the opposing main line rails 1,1, and simultaneously the To the lower pivoted part of the guide K, 1

rod V, will by left hand endwise movement change the positions of the switch levers w, w, as the electric current to the motor is cut off by the operator at the tower or station, thus leaving the motor adjusted for rotating the screw shaft E, in the reverse direction for imparting reverse motion to the switch rails when they are to be thrown back to their first described right hand position at the will of the operator.

It will be understood that during the abovenamed normalshifting or setting of the switch rails by the action of the rotating screw shaft E, the roller 8, on theweighted lever S, T, by acting in the central recess 1", of the cam latch R, holds or looks the guide plate K, and parts M, O, at rest in the central position, and that To normally re-set the switch railsback to the right hand opposing rails, the operator simply turns on the electric current, and the screw shaft E, then will rotate in a direction the reverse of that indicated by the arrow, and the mechanism will resume the first described positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the electric current switching levers w, it, will also be automatically rea'dj usted in readiness to transmit the current tonext turn the screw shaft in direction of the arrow when the switch rails are again to be set to the left hand main line rails, at the will of the operator. Another switch lever w,is actuated simultaneously with the levers w, w, and by suitable electric connections signals the adjustments of the switch rails and mechanism at the operators tower or station.

We now will suppose that the switch is run through by the wheel flanges of an engineer car toward the left hand from the position shown in Fig. 2,'of the drawings. In this case, the screw shaft E, is not rotated and the bar U, which connects with the switch rails 2, 2,

is forced to the left hand by them and carries" with it the grip plates J, J, with the outer one I of which the bar is connected at u.

It will be noticed from Figs. 2, and 4, of the drawings, that when the end roller is, of the rod I, is lodged in either of the portions 10 70 of the slot of the guide plate K, one wall of the top recesses of the grip plates J, lies directly against and behind the rollers j, and in front of the latter rollers there is quitea little space. It is obvious that with this construction and when the initial switch operating movement is given'by the bar'I, from the nut H, the roller-k, on this bar will have opportunity to move forward and out of the guide plate notch 10*, or k and into the main curved portion is, of the slot before the rollers j,j, on the bar I, strike the opposite or farther walls of the grip platerecesses or notches to swing over said platesforoperating the bar U, toshit't the switch rails by normal action of the screw shaft. When, however, theinitial movement comes'by or from the switch bar U, as when the switch isrun through by-the car wheels, the rear walls of the recesses of the grip plates J, J, at once bite on the rollers j, j, and lock or bind the other roller it, into the notch 10 or hf, of the guide plate K, in which it rests. Consequently as the switch rails are run through by the car wheels toward the left hand, the locking of the roller 10, within the l notch 10 of the guide plate willcause' the latter to be swung over by the bar U, toward the left hand with thegrip plates J,'J, and with the following effect As the guide plate K, is thus swung over with the grips J, J, the pin N,- fixed 'to the plate'wi'll, by acting in the slot m, of the bearing M, rock the latter towardthe left, thereby forcing the rodO, and the connected main shaft portions F, E, D, in the same direction, while the part D, slips or telescopes over the shaft portion 0, with which the electro-motor B, is directly connected. The rod I, is of course carried to the left hand also by the, grip plates. This telescoping action of the shaft thus accommodates or compensates for the stationary relation of the nuttraveler H,on the screw E,of the shaft during the running through of the switch. As the guide plate K, is thus thrown over toward the left hand, the pin P, on said plate will rock the cam R, to the left thereby causing the roller 8, on the weighted lever S, to ride up the inner convexed wall of the right hand upper portion '1", of the cam, whereby the lever will be raised until its roller- 8, reaches and rides over the apex of said part 1", which is the position indicated in Fig. 3, of the drawings and is taken about at the time 'the switch rails which have been run through get their maximum movement from or by the engine or car wheel flanges. Immediately thereafter the weighted lever, while bearing by its roller 8, upon the outer convexed wall of the part 0, will force the cam R, farther over toward the left hand (see Fig. 6) and While the roller 70, of the rod I, is'locked or latched in the right hand recess k of the slotted guide plate K, and whereby as .the lever S, falls, its roller .9, will carry the cam R, to the farthest left hand position,

grips J, to have like movement and thereby causing the rod U, to throw the switch rails 2, 2, which had received a partial left hand movement from the engine or car wheel flanges, entirely or fully over to the opposing left hand main line rails. The operation is practically the same whether the switch be run through to the right or left hand, as the form of the grips J, guide plate K, and cam B, provides for this by reverse order of move- \ments, and the shaft portions D, E, F, may move telescopically either to the right or left hand.

It will thus be understood that with the herein described devices, the switch may be opened or closed normally by the electromotor B, and by means of a key, lever or bu tton shifted or touched by the operator in a distant signal tower, who also will be notified by telegraph of the movements of the switch; and that should the switch be run through by a passing engine or train, the switch rails will "be automatically carried over fully in the same direction and against opposing main line rails, thereby avoiding dangerous intermediate open positions of the switch rails and promoting the safety of railway travel, and in this case also the operator will be telegraphically notified by or through the switch lever connections at 'w', of the movements of the switch.

meanwhile causing the guide plate K, and

contact plates 10 to the center and opposite end ones of which the switch levers w, w, are alternately adjusted to convey the electric currents as required to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor driving shaft and screw shaft; and two binding posts or contact plates 211 act with the lever w, and suitably connected wires and signals to notify the operator or an attendant at a central station of the adjustments of the switch. Any other approved electric current switching devices operative from the switch rail shifting mechanism may, however, be used within the scope of my invention.

After the switch has been run through to the right or left hand and is carried fully over in the same direction by the action of the roller 8, of the counterweighted lever S, on the left or right hand convexed faces respeotively of the parts r r, of the cam R, the switch mechanism will be readjusted to normal position by raising the lever S, by hand and placing its roller 5, in the central recess '1', of the cam.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch rails, of a screw shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a nut on the screw, rocking grip plates, and rods connecting the grip plates to the switch rails and nut, substantially as described.

2. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch rails, of a screw shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a nut on the screw, rocking grip plates having recessed free ends, a rod connected at one end with the nut and engaging the grip plates at its other end, a rod connecting the grip plates and switch rails, and a guide plate provided with a curved slot having tangential end extensions and adapted to guide the connections between the nut rod and grip plates, substantially as described.

3. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch rails, of a screw shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a nut on the screw, rocking grip plates having recessed free ends, a rod connected at one end with the nut and engaging the recessed grip plates at its other end, a rod connecting the grip plates and switch rails, a guide plate provided with a curved slot having tangential end extensions, and connections between the nut rod and grip plates, the recesses of the grip plates receiving such connections being larger than and giving play to the latter, substantially as described, whereby said connections may enter the tangential portions of the guide plate slot and be latched therein by the grip plates on movement of the latter in one direction, and whereby also the grip plate recesses permit initial movement of the connections from the tangential end portions into the main curved part of the guide plate slot on movement of the grip plates in the other direction, as set forth.

4. In a railway switch,the combination with a rotatable telescoping shaft, of mechanism connected therewith for normally operating the switch by the rotation of the shaft, and means operated by the telescoping of said shaft for throwing the switch over to the opposing main line rails when run through and opened by an engine or train, substantially as described.

5. In a railway switch,the combination with a rotatable telescoping shaft, of mechanism connected therewith for normally operating the switch by the rotation of the shaft in either direction,and means operated by the telescoping of said shaft for throwing the switch over to the opposing main line rails when run through and opened by an engine or train substantially as described.

6. In a railway switch,the combination with a connection to the switch rails adapted to normally actuate them, of a rocking cam coupled to the connection, and a counterpoise acting on the cam, substantially as described.

7. In a railway switch,the combination with a telescoping connection to the switch rails adapted to normally actuate them, of a rocking cam coupled to the telescoping connection, and a counterpoise acting on said cam, substantially as described.

8. In arailway switch,the combination with the switch rails, of a telescoping revoluble shaft carryinga screw, a nut on the screw,and connections between the switch rails and the telescoping shaft and its nut, substantially as described, whereby the switch may be normally operated from the rotating screw shaft without telescoping said shaft, and whereby also the switch may be cut open as the shaft is telescopedendwise and without movement of the nut along the shaft, as herein set forth.

9. In arailway switch, the combination with the switch rails, of a telescoping revoluble shaft carrying a screw, a nut on the screw, connections between the switch rails and the telescoping shaft and its nut, a rocking cam interposed in said connections, and a counterpoise acting on said cam, substantially as described, whereby the switch may be normally operated from the rotating screw shaft without telescoping said shaft, and whereby also when the switch is cut open as the shaft is telcscoped endwise and without movement of the nut along the shaft, the counterpoise by action on the cam will complete the throw of the switch rails to opposing main line rails, as herein set forth.

10. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch rails, of a telescoping revoluble shaft carrying a screw, a nut on the screw, rocking grip plates having recessed free ends, a rod connected with the nut and engaging the grip plates, a rod connecting the grip plates and switch rails, a rocking guide plate provided with a curved slot having tangential end extensions and adapted to guide and latch the connections between the nut rod and grip IIO screw of the telescoping shaft, substantially as described. a

11. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch rails, of a telescoping revoluble shaft carrying a screw, a nut on th'escrew,

rocking grip plates having recessedfree ends,

a rod connected with the nut and engaging the recessed grip plates, a rodconnecting the grip plates and switch rails, a rocking guide plate provided with acurved slot having tangential endextensions and adapted to guide and latch the connections between the nutrod and grip plates, a pivoted catch, a rod connecting the catch to 'a non-rotatable part of the screw shaft, means on the rocking guide plate for actuating said catch, a pivoted cam having a central upper recess, a pin on the guide plate entering the cam, and a counterweighted lever bearing at the central upper recess of the cam, substantially as described, whereby rocking of the guide plate and endwise telescoping action of the screw shaft is prevented when the switch is adjusted normally from the shaft, and whereby also complet'e lateral movement of the switch rails to opposing main line rails will be efiected when the switch is cut open toward said main rails by the engine or car wheels, as herein set forth.

12. The combination with a railway switch comprising switch rails, a screw shaft, a nut adapted to travel along the screw, and con-" nections between the switch rails and nut, of an electro-motor coupled to the screw shaft for rotating the same, and electric switch devices coupled with the motor and the switch rail actuating mechanism, substantially as described, whereby as the switch is set over in one direction by operation of said mechanism, the contacts will be automatically re-adjusted in readiness to reverse rotation of the screw shaft on the next passage of the current through the motor, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a railway switch, comprising switch rails, a revoluble' screw shaft capable of endwise telescoping movement, a nut on the screw and mechanism substantially as specified for operating the switch normally by or from the screw shaft, and for permitting cutting open of the switch and subsequent full setting over in the same direction of the switch rails to opposing main line rails,of an electro-motor coupled to the screw shaft for operating the same, substantially as described. 1

14. The combination with a railway switch, comprising switch rails, a revoluble screw shaft capable of endwise telescoping movement, a nut on the screw and mechanism, substantially as specified, for operating the switch normally by or from the screw shaft ,and for permitting cutting open of the switch and subsequent full setting over in thesame direction of the switch rails to opposmg main line rails, of an electro-motor coupled to the screw shaft for operating the lsame, and electric-switch devices coupled with the motor and the switch rail actuating mechanism, substantially as described,

whereby asthe switch is set over in one direc tron, either' normally or by being cut open,

the electric contacts will be automatically re adjusted in readiness to reverse rotation of .the screw shaft on the next passage of the current through the motor, substantially as described.

15. In a railway switch, the combination with the main line rails 1, 1, and switch rails 2, 2, of a laterally ranging shaft having a screw portion E, means for rotating said shaft, a nut H, on the screw, rocking grip plates J, J, a rod I, connecting the nut and gripiplates, and a rod U, coupling the grip plates and switch rails, substantially as described.

16. In a railway switch, the combination with the main line rails 1, 1, and switch rails 2, 2, of a laterally ranging shaft having a screw portion E, means for rotating said shaft, a nut H, on the screw, rocking grip plates J, J, a rod I, coupled to the nut H, and carrying rollers j, j, k; a guide plate K, having a slot is with end extensions 10 said slot receiving the roller is, while the grip plates receive the roller j, 7', and a rod U, coupling the switch rails and grip plates, substantially as described.

17. In a railway switch, the combination with the main line rails 1, 1, and switch rails 2, 2, of a laterally ranging revoluble and telescoping shaft, comprising parts 0, D, a screw E, and a non-rotatable end portion F; a nut H, on the screw, rocking grip plates J, J, a red I, coupled to the nut H, and carrying rollers j, j, is, a guide plate K, having a slot It with end extensions 10 k said slot receiving the roller is, while the grip plates engage the rollers j, 7'; a pivoted slotted catch M, a pin N, on the guide plate K, engaging said catch, a rod 0, connecting the catch M, with the part F, of the lateral shaft, and a rod U, coup-" ling the switch rails and grip plates, substantially as described.

18. In a railway switch, the combination with the main line rails 1, 1, and switch rails 2, 2, of alaterally rangingrevoluble and telescoping shaft comprising parts G, D, a screw E, and a non-rotatable end portion F; a nut H, on the screw, rocking grip plates J, J, a red I, coupled to the nut H, and carrying rollers j, j, k, a guide plate K, having a slot is,

with end extensions 10 k said slot receiving the roller k, while the grip plates engage the rollers j, j, a pivoted slotted catch M, a pin N, on the guide plate K, engaging said catch, a rod 0, connecting the catch M, with the part F, of the lateral shaft, a rocking cam R,

having a recess 1', a counterweighted lever S, T, having a roller .9, adapted to the recess a", and exterior convex faces of the cam, a connection P, between the parts K, R, and a rod U, coupling the switch rails and grip plates, substantially as described.

19. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch and main line rails, a revoluble telescopim, shaft 0, D, E, F, a nut H, on the screw portion E, of said shaft, mechanism I, J, K, M, O, P, R, S, T, coupled to the nut, and a bar U, connecting said mechanism to the switch rails, of an electro-motor coupled to the shaft, a rod V, connected to the nut H, electric switch devices w, connected with the motor to reverse the current and the direction of rotation, and connections between said switch devices and the rod V, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

20. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch and main line rails, a revoluble telescoping shaft 0, D, E, F, a nut II, on the screw portion E of said shaft, mechanism I, J, K, M, O, P, R, S, '1, coupled to the nut, and a bar U, connecting said mechanism to the switch rails, of an electro-motor coupled to the shaft, a rod V, connected to the nut II, electric switch devices connected by the rod V, to the motor to reverse the current and direction of rotation; and a telegraph line and electric switch device connected therewith to signal operation of the switch at a distant point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A. SCHLESSING, JOSEF Z. N. ANEN. 

